Start Writing Now: Overcome your fears

One of the biggest barriers for people writing is the dreaded writer’s block. With blogging, twitter and status feeds the illness strikes just as hard and just as often. Unfortunately the added pressure of immediate feedback and putting what you write out there in the wild only compounds the problem. So in the end new bloggers and posters end up having to confront the other demons of writing, self doubt and fear, much sooner than those that write in secret.

There are a few ways these canny little beasts surface, but the main ones I see are:

• What if someone criticises my work
• What if someone criticises me
• What do I have that is worth sharing
• I’m not an expert
• How will I come up with new ideas to write about

Let’s confront number 1 and 2 straight up. I saw a fantastic Tweet of a quote by Bill Cosby today, ”I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” I’d agree. If what you are saying is worth saying, you with attract people who will disagree with you. Don’t be worried by that people can only affect you if you let them. Listen to the people you respect and value and let their feedback be your guide. Even then, if they disagree you don’t need to change your posts, but you may need to think through their arguments. Best case scenario, the people who don’t agree with you may force you to clarify and refine your position and may be the source for your next writing expedition.

Don’t take critisim personally, most times it won’t be personal. People are just responding to something on the page. If THEY want to make it personal by attacking you, they DON’T count as critics and can be ignored. If they argue against your IDEAs, think through what they are saying and respond when you have enough distance to reply in a constructive manner.

So rejoice when you attract critics, you will be attracting others too!

Fear of criticism stops some. Fear of not having something to share, not having something worthy to share and not being able to continue to share stops many, many more. Here are my thoughts on how to overcome these obstacles.

“I have nothing worthwhile”

Well, yes you do. Unless you are lying entombed beneath the earth, you are doing things everyday that you can record. Of course if you are into caving, being entombed in the earth would be something worth writing about. There are people in your type of situation the would like to know how you face it. This statement is true for the educator or the fitness fanatic. It is true for a depressive and an entrepreneur.

We like to know we are not alone. We like to know that some people think deep thoughts for us to ponder and we like to know that the dog next door bothers you as much as it does me. People are people are people everywhere. And people everywhere need people in order to feel like a we rather than a me all alone.

You have in you something to write. Recently at my work I was chatting with a colleague about the news a trainee that was to be nominated for a trainee award. It’s really exciting for the people involved, but I didn’t realise the amount of paperwork and legwork involved in the nomination. It was interesting. I’ve suggested that the colleague blog the entire process, because I know others would be similarly interested. Before the suggestion my colleague thought that they had nothing to write about. It turns out they have some great content material. Chances are so do you.

“Why should someone listen to me?”

This one is the rehash of the “I’m not an expert” files. Let’s just address that fear with some great quotes on experts:

• “An Ex-Spurt is just a drip under pressure”
• “Expert: a man who makes three correct guesses consecutively.” Dr. Laurence J. Peter
• “An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made, in a narrow field.” Niels Bohr
• “An expert is someone who knows more and more about less and less, until eventually he knows everything about nothing.”
• “An expert is somebody who is more than 50 miles from home, has no responsibility for implementing the advice he gives, and shows slides.” Edwin Meese III
  

Let’s not be too worried about being an expert. I’m not an expert, guru or wonderkid. I’m someone who is happy to learn everyday and will continue to learn everyday. Expert isn’t a title you should EVER give yourself. If you have it applied to you, accept it with grace and don’t be too quick to believe it lest you get lost in your belief.

What you are is someone who has an interest in a field. Even if that field is the dog next door, you have the right to write about it. Defend your ideas and engage others, wax lyrical about the things that interest you. Find opportunities to ask others their opinions and have fun. That is all you need to do. If you are wrong or get a fact wrong, fix it up and keep writing. The trick is don’t take yourself too seriously and keep writing. You have something in you to write, write it.

“I can’t find new stuff to write about”

Material to write about comes into the inspiration area and it’s a little harder. Some of the advice I have tried to follow is to write everyday regardless. I admit I probably write more coal then diamonds. I still try to write and I’m not worried if it is one paragraph in a journal or an article. It does not matter.

Remember what you write doesn’t have be online for the world to see, you can keep this offline. I recommend there are certain things you keep to yourself including:

• Personal details that identify specific people and situations. If it is a private matter, keep it private.
• every single bit of your thoughts and letting it “all hang out” – some things you don’t want out there
• Public feuds with the rest of the world though these can be interesting to watch
• Anything that will damage you now and in the future unless ethics, conviction or faith compel you to speak up. Even then pause first.

It’s your call and write what you will, but write. Quantity will turn into quality if you keep at it. Your writing style will improve with time and the topics you write about will become more varied. Don’t doubt yourself. Write about the small things in your life or the big things in the world. Write about the news articles that grab your attention or the scout hall down the road that is run down and saddens you. Just write about anything that hits you and you will find new and good stuff. If you can’t start a blog, start responding to others. Start writing and keep writing.

It’s a journey that you can grow to love, because what you write about is less important than the journey itself. What will you write about? I can’t tell you and I shouldn’t because it’s your journey to live.

If you don’t write, start. If you need a place to start, let me know what you think as comment or catch me on Twitter. I want to hear what you have to say.